Rumor of the day: Palin to announce she’s running for president in Alaska … on September 11? Update: “Ridiculous”

posted at 1:02 pm on September 1, 2010 by Allahpundit

The answer’s almost certainly no, as she surely knows how it would play for any candidate to coopt 9/11 for something as self-aggrandizing as a campaign launch. (Even Giuliani waited until February 2007 to declare.) As much grief as Beck got for holding his rally on the anniversary of MLK’s speech, she’d get a thousand times more, which is the wrong foot to start on for a candidate who needs to rehabilitate her polling among centrists. Besides, as I’ve said before, she’s the one person in the field who can afford to jump into the race late. This would make her the first one into the pool, even before sure-to-declares like Romney. So yeah, this is almost definitely just fun, idle, too-good-to-check speculation.

I say “almost,” though, because something involving Palin is happening in Alaska on September 11 and it’s significant enough to have Glenn Beck in attendance. From today’s new Vanity Fair hit piece (which is already being challenged for accuracy by even left-leaning journos like Ben Smith and John Dickerson), a tantalizing detail:

Moore, a green-eyed blonde who, like Palin, was once an Alaska beauty queen, albeit a few stripes more self-aware, drives her Subaru through downtown Anchorage, steering with one hand, holding a cigarette and her smartphone in the other. When Devon calls to tell her that Glenn Beck has booked the Dena’ina Center, the largest venue in Anchorage, for a speech on September 11, 2010, she sits bolt upright and yells. Immediately, they start trying to figure out what the news might mean. “Listen, listen, listen: Why in the world do you imagine Glenn Beck would come to Anchorage on 9/11? You think he might have a special guest? With a special announcement? Oh,” she says, her whole face falling as the implications of a Palin campaign kickoff hit her, “Jesus Christ.”

Just another embellishment in Vanity Fair’s piece, perhaps? Not quite. Via the Right Scoop, below you’ll find Beck himself on this morning’s show confirming his trip to Alaska and the fact that he and Palin will both be at the event (“a week from Saturday,” a.k.a. September 11). Note how theatrically coy he is about what’s going on: All he says is that they’ll both be speaking, and when asked if it’s political, he (twice) refuses to answer. Presumably they’re going to announce some sort of joint lecture tour or whatever and this is just Beck’s way of teasing the audience by vaguely hinting that it’s something more, but the location, the size of the venue, and the secrecy around it are curious. (For what it’s worth, Beck claimed as recently as three days ago that he won’t run for anything and has no idea what Palin’s doing.) Remember too that it was only yesterday we learned she’ll be in Iowa later this month for her first big speaking engagement — and according to the Des Moines Register, it was her team who approached the Iowa GOP about making that happen, not vice versa. Quote:

Palin began taking a more active approach toward Iowa in late July, when her political action committee told Iowa Republican Party staff that Palin’s people were planning a more aggressive fall campaign schedule and had asked whether the Reagan invitation was still open.

Iowa is actually the biggest reason why she might want to declare early rather than late. As Mark Halperin notes, “caucus goers expect (read: ‘demand’) to see potential candidates early and often,” which helps explain why she hasn’t polled well in the state thus far. But of course, she could let them see her early and often without announcing any sort of candidacy; just book a bunch of speeches and put in some face time.

Exit question one: What’s this really about? Some sort of “honoring the victims of 9/11” memorial event, maybe? If so, why hold it in Anchorage instead of New York or D.C.? Exit question two: What happens to the rest of the field if she jumps in now? Do Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, etc, then have to declare soon too or should they wait a few months for the Palin buzz to dissipate a bit before making a move this winter? Romney can get away with losing Iowa since he’s the presumptive heavy favorite in New Hampshire, but the rest of the field can’t afford to let anyone build up too much steam there. Hmmm.

Update: Rebecca Mansour of SarahPAC e-mails to say that the rumor that she’ll announce on 9/11 is “ridiculous” and to point out that Palin had a longstanding open invite from the Iowa GOP to come speak. She finally took them up on it this week.

Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to announce. That’s why I led with the argument against it. But if it’s just an “honor the troops” rally, why the big secrecy? Just announce that it’s an honor the troops rally.

Allahpundit on September 1, 2010 at 1:29 PM

Sure, and she and Glenn would get a ton of people interested in that rally.

But a little secrecy, and now EVERYONE’s wondering what it is, generating a lot more buzz for whatever event it is. I don’t think Vanity Fair would devote an article to an “honor the troops rally,” do you?

She needs to put some distance between herself and Beck. He’ll hurt her in the long run if she doesn’t.
a capella on September 1, 2010 at 1:32 PM.

Interesting. A poster on AOSHQ said the exact same thing. Less than 5 days after they appeared at a rally in front of maybe 500,000, Sarah needs to seperate herself from Beck. Kinda late for that advice, no?

Beck has stated before that he is NOT in the Palin for President camp. I’m not sure if that has changed, but it is curious, given their current cozy working relationship. The odd part about that to me is that I remember Beck talking about Palin as a great VP pick months before McCain selected her. For all I know, Beck could just be manipulating the media, coming out against a 2012 run just to keep the attack dogs in their cages for now.

It’s really quite amazing, these two irrelevant private citizens, one a quitter and the other an alcoholic, that they can gin up such chatter and speculation regarding what their intentions are.

If Huck or Mitt is the nominee, I think Obama could possibly win – depending on where the economy is by then. The only support Huck has is with evangelicals. He turns everyone else off. He is socially conservative and fiscally liberal. There is simply no real constituency for that. In a crowded GOP primary field, he may win – which would likely doom the GOP’s chances in 2012.

Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to announce. That’s why I led with the argument against it. But if it’s just an “honor the troops” rally, why the big secrecy? Just announce that it’s an honor the troops rally.

Allahpundit on September 1, 2010 at 1:29 PM

Allahpundit,

Glenn Beck spent years as a self-promoting DJ….I think he knows how to create suspense to draw more people.

Mitt Romney is country club liberal republican. What is teh point of all this if we end up with someone in 2012 who is simply content to be the tax collector for liberal schemes? He would never work to repeal obamacare or any of the other atrocities that Obama passes.
Monkeytoe on September 1, 2010 at 1:33 PM

It’s really quite amazing, these two irrelevant private citizens, one a quitter and the other an alcoholic, that they can gin up such chatter and speculation regarding what their intentions are.
ornery_independent on September 1, 2010 at 1:35 PM

If that’s all you see them as, then plenty of things in life will amaze you…

Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to announce. That’s why I led with the argument against it. But if it’s just an “honor the troops” rally, why the big secrecy? Just announce that it’s an honor the troops rally.

Allahpundit on September 1, 2010 at 1:29 PM

So why does the Road Runner lead the Wile E. Coyote Media on? Because she can? Because it’s fun? Because she owns stock in Acme? Because one fine day maybe they will launch themselves off a cliff too high?

It won’t happen on 9/11, but eventually both Beck and Palin are going to endorse Mitt Romney for President. You heard it here first.

rockmom on September 1, 2010 at 1:13 PM

Beck I’ll give you, but if Sarah endorses Flip Flopney, I will start packing my things to move to Canada…America will soon become uninhabitable thereafter facing another 4 years of Obamunism.

Sarah would never be so crass or dishonorable as to use 9/11 for her personal political career.
And Glenn’s all about honor, too.
This is about remembering the day properly (which Barack won’t do) and perhaps “restore honor” to it.

Well, she’s fighting to negate the media image of her as a non serious, platitude reciting candidate. He has described himself as an entertainer and a rodeo clown. Malcolm X and Madonna also have drawn large crowds, so I’m not entranced by that. Beck is a master at self promotion. She shouldn’t allow herself to get drawn completely into his circle. But, she has fine political skills, so we’ll see.

Sarah’s a generous, kind and loyal person.
Was not endorsing him really an option for her? No.
(Besides he was the GOP nominee for POTUS and her running mate.)
Mittens? No. Never happen.
Particularly when his fingerprints have been behind a few dirty tricks against Sarah for the past 2 years.
Flip Flopney’s not really pro-Life, he’s a gun-grabber, he’s a statist who loves big Government and he’s the father of MA ObamaCare.

They’re both interested in raising money for injured U.S. troops returning from Afghanistan/Iraq. Maybe they’re announcing some sort of new fund or foundation to help wounded vets. It would make sense to announce something like that on 9/11.

Good grief. Those two are starting to look like a couple of mischievous children. Tee hee hee. If she does announce her candidacy, like you say, it’s an awful poor choice of days to do so. So I’d say Beck is going up there to promote something she’s trying to do, hopefully it’s not that.

Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to announce. That’s why I led with the argument against it. But if it’s just an “honor the troops” rally, why the big secrecy? Just announce that it’s an honor the troops rally.

Allahpundit on September 1, 2010 at 1:29 PM

Seems to me this pitch is thrown right at your wheelhouse Allah, a speculative Palin/Beck tease on it’s way to hundreds of comments, only to be left unresolved for future blog posts with more hundreds of comments. No down side for HotAir on this one. ;)

GLENN: Hey Sarah, will you come speak at my honor rally in DC?
SARAH: You betcha! Will you come speak up in Alaska to honor our troops on 9/11?

Probably all there is to it.

MassVictim on September 1, 2010 at 1:24 PM

Absolutely agree, with some additional comments…

1) After what happened with the MSM guessing at the purpose of the 8/28 rally (and getting it embarrassingly wrong), Beck’s just teasing them along, providing just enough rope for them to voluntarily hang themselves like the immoral stupid little lemmings they are.

2) This will be one of many stops/tours to continue the momentum into November. The worst thing they can do is remain hidden and let the fires burn out. You can’t stoke a strong fire by giving just a few puffs and walking away; you have to keep the airflow coming to get the fire really hot!

3) I wouldn’t be surprised to see this directed TO the troops. The mistake that Obama made in his news conference was talking ABOUT the troops, but not TO the troops. This would be a big moral booster for our troops, and get them into the fire also.

Good grief. Those two are starting to look like a couple of mischievous children. Tee hee hee. If she does announce her candidacy, like you say, it’s an awful poor choice of days to do so. So I’d say Beck is going up there to promote something she’s trying to do, hopefully it’s not that.

scalleywag on September 1, 2010 at 2:01 PM

They have the formula for making liberal heads explode. Why not keep it going? It’s a lot of fun and not hard to do.

Yes. And at this trying time I try to focus on the good that GB is doing. I was pretty steamed with how he treated MM that day on the radio. At any rate, I keep my eye on the ball and focus on the good. But that little left at Albuquerque illustrated to me why GB has some haters in the Conservative movement, I forgave him though.

Oh, and Laura Ingraham is right. Kelly Ayotte is like the Mitt Romney (actually, worse) of the NH race. True Conservatives support Ovide Lamontagne.

Have no idea why SP supports her other than she is most likely to win. I hear both of their commercials as I neighbour NH.

Beck is a shrewd carnival shill…he knows how to jerk an audience around, and promote whatever he desired to promote.
He is a genius at promoting, like great Baptist traveling ministers, or the front man for a traveling carnival, Beck works people into promoting him.
He scares you, he thrills you, he becomes coy when needed, always wrapped in a religious fervor, and apple pie…and the people love it.
Obama proved how easy it is to manipulate, and Beck is just another of many that have that ability.

She’s the proud mother of two and the wife of a combat veteran who flew missions over Iraq and currently serves in the Air National Guard. Kelly and her husband started a small landscaping/snow removal business; so, she understands first hand the crushing burden Washington imposes on our small businesses. This pro-life, pro-family, anti-tax constitutional commonsense conservative is the Democrats’ biggest fear in November. They’re already running false ads against her weeks before even the primary election. And on top of that Kelly is facing attacks from a self-funded millionaire running with an R next to his name who likes Obamacare and cap-and-tax.

Laura Ingraham’s schoolgirl crush on Mitt Romney is rather embarrassing. “He needs to mess up his hair.” giggle “He came to my booksigning – and his hair was mussed!” giggle “I told him he looked just like Fonzie!”

Really.

He’s married, Laura.

And I also say schoolgirl, because she’s acting like a jealous one since there’s now another conservative woman on the national scene. Competition!

Plus.

She’s BOR’s #1 sub it seems these days. And BOR was in the Fenway stands with Mitt over his vacation. And said on late night TV that Mitt will be the 2012 nominee.

I suspect this is just rumor. I think Palin made her intentions on running for future political office very clear when she quit as governor of Alaska. She ruined her only chance of restoring her image with independents. Granted, her image was destroyed by vicious and vile media hacks, but she didn’t do much to make her own case either. Nominating Palin will ensure the incompetent buffoon sees a second term. I can’t take another day of this administration, let alone another 6 years.

Sarah Palin is too smart to run for president this time around. She would be eaten alive, and she knows it. I have seen her speak in person, and I really like her and her message. But, I don’t want her to run for POTUS because I don’t think she is electable, and if she is, she would be chopped off at the knees right out of the box.

waiting for leftists to start hoping the terrorists repeat 9/11 in AK……you all know its only a matter of time…

unseen on September 1, 2010 at 2:10 PM

Ya know, you aren’t being funny. Watching the towers fall, screaming at the Television “NO” and then hearing the roar of the F-15’s take off since 3 planes won’t make contact with Anchorage International….. then a bomb threat (hoaxed) at a State Building.

And Alaskans knowing that the Lower 48 can’t make it up here in time to help. Yeah, you are seriously NOT being funny.

When first announced in November, the rally was to be the scene for the unveiling of “The Plan” a 100-year outline to “save the country.” But Beck quickly changed focus, opting for a less political event that would raise money for military families and honor a group of heroes.

They drew 500,000 in D.C. East Coast,
How many in Alaska West Coast,
Next Florida how many,
Then S. California,

With Sarah announcing in Des Moines IA Feb. 2011?

Where ever she goes the crowds seem to be and it will be Honoring the Troops and Restoring Honor until Feb. and then she calls in her chips from all her newly electeds and unleashes her Facebook army to fan out and spread the word that Palin will be President 2012!

hmmm the real day Palin annouces i will love to see the Mittbutt boys heads explode. The entire effort since 2008 has been directed at getting Palin not to run. they know if she runs she wins. all the fire all the narratives have been why Palin shouldn’t run shouldn’t even thing about running.

they know once she enters the equation the air will be sucked up and no one else will be able to compete for time or media attention.

Palin will be like a cat 5 hurricane the day she enters the race. All the news people will go to her not mitt, newt, thune or huck…..

Yes, I am looking for them now. As far as I know, Ayotte, as AG of NH did sue Planned Parenthood but in the end, the ruling was eventually overturned. I heard Wendy Long (a denizen of NH) talk about it yesterday on Laura’s show. I am searching her website too. Listen to the interview yesterday with WL and you’ll get the gist.

She will not be announcing on Sept. 11. I think it will be more of remembering what happened on 9/11 and honor those that have died. That being said, I have thought for a long time that she will announce her canidacy on 2/11/11 in Tampico, IL. She has already been asked to be there that day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan in his birthplace.

That would be interesting, but I can’t see her doing that on 9/11. I would think, particularly with the discussion stemming from the Ground Zero Mosque, that any event a political figure schedules for 9/11 will have to be security-oriented.

You know, another phrase that can be substituted for “electable” would be “The Name You Know.” So tell me: How do you get voters excited about “The Name You Know,” when there is already enough to know about “The Name You Know?”

IOW, who on the GOP side can create the amount of buzz that Sarah Palin creates on a near-daily basis?

And Alaskans knowing that the Lower 48 can’t make it up here in time to help. Yeah, you are seriously NOT being funny.

upinak on September 1, 2010 at 2:13 PM

not trying to be funny glenn Beck wore a bullet proof vest in Dc. the hate from the left is real and it is powerful. Many comments hoped for their death on 8/28. Do you think the left is being funny when they wish death on rush, Palin, Bush, Beck?

hell a lot of the leftist were dancing in streets on 9/11/01. These are the type of people we are up against.

Please, no. January 2011 will be soon enough. I hate politcs. It’s a necessary evil and that’s all. I am fed up to the gills with ALL of it. I follow it only like a COP who is on the lookout for the local scum that he knows is going to commit a crime, it’s only a matter of when. Presidential campaigns are already too long. I know the Palinbots will be exstatic about it, but it can’t wait at least a few more months. Give us time to savor the big wins coming this Nov, Sarah.